It is bacteria known as Serratia marcescens, according to Roxanne Johnson, North Dakota State University Extension Service water quality associate. You may find this bacterium in moist areas such as toilet bowls, sinks, tiles, shower stalls, bathtub enclosures and even your pet's water dish.
To clean red mold from hard surfaces (bathroom showers, walls, and floors), you can use a commercial cleaning product like bleach. Combine one-part bleach with three parts water. Next, soak a cloth in the bleach solution and apply it over the surface.
The bacteria, Serratia marcescens, cause that pink or even red slime you might find in your shower, toilet bowl, or around other water fixtures. The bacteria are abundant in nature, so it is commonly found in water and dirt.
It's usually not as hazardous to your health as black mold and other fungi, but there are some pink mold dangers, such as urinary tract infections, intestinal problems and in rare cases pneumonia. You'll definitely want to rid your bathroom of the pink mold and take steps to keep it from coming back.
Some molds may start as red and turn to other colors over time. Mold itself is not dangerous, it's the mycotoxins (which I go over in my Black Mold post) it produces. Just like any other type of mold, red mold should be taken seriously even if just for precautionary purposes.
Tips to Prevent Pink Mold From Coming Back
Dry your shower walls and shower curtains after each use to eliminate excess water and moisture. A towel or squeegee should do the trick. Use antimicrobial shower curtain liners and bathmats designed to keep away stains and odors caused by microbial growth.
The color of mold can be influenced by food source and humidity level, even light. Mold color is irrelevant in determining toxicity.
Remove any soap scum or residue regularly, and consider spraying the affected area with white vinegar every month or two. Vinegar is effective at preventing pink mold and should shield your home from a repeat infestation.
Green-Black Mold – A toxic color combination.
This type of mold is one of the most dangerous molds that we find. It poses a hazard to your health and any living thing it reaches due to its deadly mycotoxins.
What Causes Pink Mold in a Shower? Serratia marcescens and Aureobasidium pullulans are the most common bacteria that cause pink mold in a bathroom. These airborne bacterial species love moist environments like showers, where they feed on minerals and fatty deposits in soap and shampoo residue.
Once established, the organism usually cannot be eliminated entirely. However, periodic and thorough cleaning of the surfaces where the pink slime occurs, followed by disinfection with chlorine bleach, appears to be the best way to control it.
Whether you become an industrious shower cleaner-upper or not, Tierno says mold isn't likely to pose any major health risk to the average person. “Any fungus can be allergenic,” he says. “You can develop an allergy or exacerbate an allergy if you expose yourself long enough to a fungus.
A very easy homemade mixture that you can use to clean Serratia marcescens is baking soda mixed with dish detergent (a 4:1 ratio works best). After rinsing this mixture off, continue cleaning with vinegar. Let this soak and then clean and rinse.
Hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, and baking soda are three nontoxic products that can remove mold in shower areas effectively. Hydrogen peroxide is naturally antifungal and antibacterial, which makes it perfect for treating mold. Baking soda also kills mold and absorbs moisture that facilitates mold growth.
Red is usually not a consistent color for mold to be, and it usually will change colors over time. Many species of mold can become red at some point during their lives, but it's most likely Aspergillus due to its prevalence. If you find red mold on food, however, that is probably Neurospora.
1. Stachybotrys. Commonly referred to as “black mold,” stachybotrys is one of the most dangerous types of mold and can cause flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, headaches, memory loss and severe respiratory damage.
A: Yes, mildew can cause health issues such as asthma, allergies, and other respiratory diseases. The mold spores can be found in damp areas like basements, bathrooms, and kitchens. If you find mold growing in these places, it is best to clean them up immediately.
Toxic mold can also have a grayish, soot-like texture, or a slimy, wet surface. In some cases, you may even notice furry orange or brown spots. If you find mold with any of these qualities in your home, don't get too close, and call a professional right away.
The good news is Serratia marcescens is mostly harmless. Touching it while you're showering or cleaning won't cause any problems (in rare cases it can cause infections through open wounds or the eye). But it's unsightly and you don't want it in your bathroom. Here's how to get rid of “pink mold” for good.
Spray vinegar onto the moldy surface and leave it for an hour. Then wipe the area clean with water and allow the surface to dry. Any smell should clear within a few hours. While it's safe to use on most surfaces, vinegar is unlikely to be effective at cleaning mold off of soft surfaces.
Pour the undiluted vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray it directly onto the moldy surface. Let the vinegar sit for at least an hour. Using a brush with soft bristles, scrub the moldy surface until the mold comes off.
Mold growths, or colonies, can start to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours. They reproduce by spores - tiny, lightweight “seeds”- that travel through the air. Molds digest organic material, eventually destroying the material they grow on, and then spread to destroy adjacent organic material.
Mold can have a musty or earthy smell, especially when it is just starting to form. The smell of mold is typically described as “musty.” It's a stale and damp scent that lingers in the air.
Overview. If you have a mold allergy, your immune system overreacts when you breathe in mold spores. A mold allergy can cause coughing, itchy eyes and other symptoms that make you miserable. In some people, a mold allergy is linked to asthma and exposure causes restricted breathing and other airway symptoms.
And if you're already faced with the nuisance of pink slime, here's how you can get rid of it: Make a one-part vinegar and one-part water solution. Spray the mixture onto the pink slime that has already left its mark. Let it soak for 10 minutes.